Working Hours Calculator

Use this free calculator to determine your total working hours for the day. Enter your start time, end time, and unpaid break duration to get your net hours worked.

Enter your shift details below. The calculator will automatically deduct your break time and provide the total in both Hours:Minutes and Decimal format (perfect for payroll).

How to Use the Working Hours Calculator

This tool is designed to help employees, freelancers, and payroll managers quickly determine the exact amount of time worked in a single shift. It automatically handles the math for standard 12-hour (AM/PM) time formats and provides results in both hours/minutes and decimal format.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Enter Start Time: Input the time you arrived at work or started your task.
  2. Enter End Time: Input the time you left work or finished your task.
  3. Break Duration: Enter the total minutes of unpaid break time you took (e.g., 30 or 60 minutes for lunch).
  4. View Results: The calculator instantly updates to show your "Net Working Hours".

Why Decimal Hours Matter

Most payroll systems require time to be entered as decimals (e.g., 8.5 hours) rather than hours and minutes (e.g., 8 hours 30 minutes). This calculator provides both formats to ensure you have exactly what you need for your timesheet or time card.

Manual Calculation Formula

If you need to calculate this manually:

  • Convert Start and End times to 24-hour military time.
  • Subtract Start Time from End Time to get gross hours.
  • Subtract unpaid break time.
  • Convert remaining minutes to decimals by dividing by 60.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate my daily working hours?

To calculate your daily working hours, subtract your start time from your end time. Then, subtract any unpaid break duration (like lunch). For example, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 8 hours total. If you take a 30-minute lunch, your paid working hours are 7.5 hours.

How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?

Divide the minutes by 60. For example, 30 minutes divided by 60 equals 0.5 hours. So, 7 hours and 30 minutes becomes 7.5 hours. This calculator does this automatically for you.

Does this calculator support overnight shifts?

Yes, this calculator works for single-day shifts. For overnight shifts that cross midnight (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM), please use our Shift Hours (Overnight) Calculator for easier automatic calculation.

Related Tools

Overtime Calculator

Calculate overtime pay rates including time-and-a-half and double time.

Lunch Break Calculator

Determine exactly when you should take your lunch break.

Shift Hours Calculator

Calculate hours for overnight shifts and irregular schedules.

Did you know?

USA federal law requires overtime pay at 1.5x for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.